LOGINFor the next five minutes, the only sound was that of Luca vigorously striking keys. Then he muttered a quick, "Yes!" and smiled. He turned the screen so that Massimo could better see it."We're in," Luca reported. "Only temporarily, of course—we've got fifteen minutes maximum."Massimo scanned the
"You know what," Massimo said into his cell phone, forcing his tone to stay casual. "You should clean up your place before you go anywhere.""I suppose I could be more thorough," Luca replied. "I don't like how much dust gets caught on the window's curtains.""Better to take care of that before alle
Massimo heard a car approach. He rushed to the windows, hoping that Elena had called a cab.But he didn't see a cab. Instead, he saw a nondescript black van pull up next to a nearby telephone pole. Massimo frowned.It didn't have any of the usual signage, but Massimo could recognize a repurposed FBI
Elena was so frustrated. Because this was the problem, wasn't it? How was she supposed to trust Massimo when he had been lying and sneaking around behind her back?Wasn't that just what her parents used to do? Wasn't Tyler using similarly ridiculous schemes—albeit with more force—to get her at his s
Elena tried to change directions but found herself at a dead end. Worst of all, the aisles were too cramped for her to slip by her step-mother. There was no way to avoid the woman."Are you ready to leave?"Elena hadn't been ready to hear that deep, steady voice again, but between Massimo and her st
Massimo stared at the fuel gauge, as if that would change the fact that the motorcycle didn't have much gas left. At least the damn thing beeped before it was completely empty—getting stranded on a deserted street with no easy way home truly would be the worst way to end this evening-into-morning ad
After the first don they visited nearly fainted, Elena insisted that they at least meet up with each don and their wife. That seemed to help ease the tension—not completely get rid of it, but still. It was much clearer that Massimo wasn't going to try to kill anyone.Elena hated Massimo's reputation
Massimo felt like he couldn't breathe. Had he messed up? Did Elena suspect his real identity?He forced himself to calm down. He looked at Elena's face. Though he couldn't fully make out her expression since she was still wearing a blindfold, she didn't seem suspicious or angry.No, she seemed confu
So Elena smiled back.With all the excitement, she had almost forgotten the mafia don in the room. "Elena," Massimo stated, voice ice cold, "do you actually know these people?"Elena knew that tone. It was the tone of the Mafia King, deciding whether someone's story checked out. Deciding whether to
Massimo spared a glance at Elena before striding up to the front door. Elena shot her mother a sympathetic smile. To her relief, Sloane followed as Elena approached the door."I'll be in my office if you need me," Massimo stated simply. Without another word, he walked off.It was just Elena and her







